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VICTORIA – The Province has increased funding to Vancouver Island service agencies delivering the Sexual Abuse and Intervention Program (SAIP) by more than 50 per cent, Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen announced today.
“The government’s commitment to some of our most vulnerable children and youth is reflected in the level of increased funding to deliver these vital services,” said Christensen. “An equally important aspect of this announcement is the heightened level of accountability that will be based on service outcomes, compliance with provincial guidelines and standards, and a requirement that agencies report accurate estimates of service demand.
“A review of SAIP standards found there was a lack of consistency in contract deliverables and reporting expectations within and across regions of the province. As a result, new standards were developed along with a commitment by government to provide an appropriate level of funding to support the new standards.”
The Vancouver Island region will receive a $460,000 funding increase to the existing 2007/08 budget of $874,000, a more than 50 per cent funding lift. In the case of the Mary Manning Center, the largest service contractor providing Sexual Abuse and Intervention services on Vancouver Island, the 2007/08 funding level of $320,000 will be increased by approximately $160,000 for 2008/09.
“Today’s announcement will provide agencies such as the Mary Manning Center with greater financial certainty moving forward,” said Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong. “Increased funding levels and new standards will help ensure the best possible outcomes for some of our most vulnerable children and youth.”
“We are particularly encouraged by the transparent and respectful way that the ministry’s regional staff on Vancouver Island have worked with us over the past days and weeks,” said Fred Ford, executive director of the Mary Manning Center. “This kind of partnership will ensure that these children and youth will continue to get the support they need and deserve. There is no priority more important than these kids and I think the ministry’s actions reflect this value.”
“Additional funding will help us expand staffing and our work, in particular, with sexually exploited children and youth,” said Anne Graboski, executive director of Alberni Community and Women’s Services Society, a service provider that will receive a $39,000 increase to its 2007/08 budget of $42,000. “This increase is a welcome addition to our funding, and we are excited at the opportunity to provide an increased level of service to the children and youth in our community.”
There are 49 SAIP agencies provincewide, and other regions will be conducting similar meetings with their respective service providers with the goal of ensuring access to quality services across the province. Following the review of the standards and cost implications with all agencies, the ministry will be in a position to establish the overall SAIP Program funding level moving forward.
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Ministry of Children and Family Development 250 356-2939 |
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